True Provincialist

Here life moves much slower. The people are warm and inviting. When you need work done around the house you will not have to look far to get someone willing to do the job. Here in the province areas you can afford much more. Rentals although harder to find can still be found with some determination and some imagination. Often for just a few thousand pesos you can have things built for you to make a house feel like a real home made for you. Fresh fruits, vegetables and meats are found at the markets. No hustle and bustle to worry about. No traffic.

Some provincial towns can be fairly large by western standards with populations approaching 50,000 people. Sometimes with 10 story apartments but often you will be renting a house. A potential beach house can be found with some searching here. Small communities are often the best support systems and it won't be long before everyone in town knows who you are — this brings security and ease of locating hard-to-find things. Here you can have enough land to have a garden or even a farm and produce your own vegetables.

Provincial areas are great for dating. Depending where you pick you might be the only foreigner in town. This can make you a bit of the local celebrity and definitely turn a lot of future potential partners' heads. Finding a mate here will be much simpler than big cities. Expect them to have very old fashioned values and know how to take good care of you.

Being the only foreigner in town sounds romantic and in many ways it genuinely is. But there is another side that only reveals itself after the novelty wears off. There is no one to grab a beer with who understands where you came from. No one who gets the cultural references or simply knows what a cold winter feels like. For the genuinely introverted man who finds deep satisfaction in immersing himself completely in Filipino culture this is not a problem — it is part of the appeal. For the man who only thinks he wants that, the quiet can become something heavier than he expected around month four or five.

Getting around means owning your own scooter or motorcycle — this goes from a convenience to a necessity. Grab does not exist here. Think carefully about your supply chain needs. Specific medications, imported food items, electronics, replacement parts — provincial areas require planning ahead. Some places have malls but they will not have the latest and greatest. If your medical needs are greater than a provincial hospital can help with this is a serious consideration.

The internet situation has improved significantly with fiber reaching more towns than ever but it remains inconsistent. Some provincial towns will surprise you with solid connectivity while others will have you frustrated and searching for signal. Power outages and roosters are guaranteed. If you can't handle either — this is not your place.